Vacuum packing apparatus



Filed June 50, 1926 j ,//J UU -,fw

Patented .lune 7, 1927.

UNITED STATES FRANK W. I.. PEEBLES,

ors'r. LoUIS, MISSOURI, AssIGNoR To JAMES I.. HOPKINS, TRUSTEE, or sr.

LOUIS, .MISSOURL VACUUM PACKING ArminMIrs.`

Application ined .Tune 3o, 1926. Seal No. 119,783.

My invention relates` to improvements in vacuum packing apparatus, and has for its particular object tov provide in such apparatus a manually operated suction head unit,

5 arranged to operate (in conjunction with an exhauster having tubular or ylike suitable connection with said unit) an exhaust for the interior of a container, as well as means for thrusting into place a slip-top vor friction top lupon, Within'7 or embracing the flanged .mouth of said container.

The substance of my invention resides in Said suction head unit, suitably connected to a source of exhaust, and having a suitable valve for cutting olf the suction head unitfroin thesource of exhaust and admitting air at atmospheric pressure between the suction head unit andthe top'of the container, after the operations'of exhausting air from the interior of the containerl and thrusting the cover or lid of saidcontainer in place, have been accomplished.

The suction head 'unit is preferably formed as a whole of flexible resilient material, and-preferably has an outer depending lip formed to register with and fit upon 0r about the periphery of the container; the

body of said suction head unit within said depending lip being of such degree of re- '30 siliency as to normally remain ina plane above theplane of said depending lip, and above the plane of the top of the'lid or cover, duringthe initial operation of -ex-V hausting the' air fromthe interior of the container; .during which operation the lid or cover will be suspended above and free of contactwith the flanged' mouth of the container. At the conclusion of the said initial operation of exhaust, and when the '4o degree of exhaust has reached a predeter- 'mined point, the said body of the said suction head unit will be forced byl atmos- -pheric pressure to 'collapse downwardly upon the lid or cover, and force said lid or cover to its seat upon the flanged mouth of the container. These two operations having been successively performed, the valve between the suction head unit and the Source of exhaust will be manipulated by the operator to cut off the exhaust and "to admit air under atmospheric pressure to a int beneath the body of the suction hea unit, to loosen said body, and then loosen the depending lip from their seats upon the container and cover, in order to free the suction head unit from the container and permit its withdrawal and use upon another container.

' Drawings.

In the drawings- F 1g. 1 1s a vertical mid-sectional view of a device embodying my invention in its ini- ,tial position, the container and lid being Description.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, the suction-head unit .A'is shown as having the marginal dependlng lip 10 formed 0n the lower face of a sheet 11. The sheet 11 may be of any form necessary tov so register with. the top of a container B that the lip 1(1- will be` seated upon the periphery of the top of the container B lin substantially air-tight contact therewith. i

The container B has the Vmouli 12 preferably surrounded by an upward y-projecting flange 13` for the reception of the flange 14 of the container-lid or cover C.

A pipe l5v extends from any Suitable source of exhaust into and throughthe sheet ll; said pipe 15 being provided with a twoway valve 16, wchichvserves to permit exhaust through the pipe 15, and when cutting off said exhaust, to admit atmosphere tliropglli the port 17 to the lower face of the s ee Mode f operation.

The lid or cover() being laid lightly upon the ange 13, the unit A is manuallyplaced upon the container B in the .position vshown in Fig. 1, thc'valvc 16 beingclosed 4both against atmosphere and exhaust.

The valve 16 is then opened to. exhaust.

The air sucked from the interior of the coni tainer B first `raises the'lidGfrom the ilange 13 (as in Fig. 2); when a sucient degree` face of thesheet 11 forces sheet 11 down-- Ward into contact with the lid C, and continuing,'forces the lid C into place upon the flange13 (as in Fig.' 3) in which position the sheet 11 adheres closely to the top surface of the lid C, and the valve 16 is then turned to admit atmosphere through the port 17 to a point beneath the sheet 11, releasing the suction-head unit A and permitting its removal from the container B.

I have thus rovded a suction-head unit capable of use (y unskilled labor, simple in construction, an incapable of injurying the hands of the o rator.

While this disclosure describes what Inow believe to be the cheapest and most effectivel form ofimy invention, I do not Wish to be understoodlas limiting myself to that particular form, especially Las I believe Athat I am the' first to produce a very simple suction-head in an art replete with more com plilcated" mechanisms alming at the same resu t.

The degree of partial vacuum to .be formed within thecontainer -B will largely be `governed by the degree of resiliency in the sheetl 11, which sheet 11 may be made of material ofl various resiliency (such. as rubber of various degrees of 'vulcan1zation), of various thicknesses, or reinforced by other material ignbedded in or mounted above or beneath said sheet 11.

It is evident that various embodiments of my invention may be made without departure from my actual invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

I claim: Y

1. In a vacuum-packing apparatus a resilient suction-'head unit and an exhausterconnection extending through said unit. 2. In a vacuum-packing apparatus a resilient suction-head -unit ,having a depending marginal lip, and an exhauster-connection extending through said unit to a point jvithin said marginal lip.

3. In a vacuum-packing apparatus a resilient suction-head unit and an' exhausterconnection extending through said unit in combination with a two-Way valve seated in said exhauster-connection.

4. In a vacuum-packing apparatus a resilient 'suction-head vunit having a depending marginal lip, and an exhauster-connection extending through said unit to a point Within said marginal lip in combination with a two-Way valve seated in said exhausterconnection.

5. In a vacuum-packing apparatus a resilient suction-head unit arranged to engage with the periphery of a container; an cxhauster-connection extending into the interior of said suction-head unit; and a suitable valve seated in said exhauster-comiection and arranged to cut the exhaust-and admit airy under atmospheric pressure to a point l beneath the body of said suction-head unit. In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed. my signature.

FRANK W. L. PEEBLES. 

